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Brake Clinic
W
inter sees
motorists tightly
shut in with
windows wound
up and heat on full. In this
situation, air-con problems will
quickly become apparent. Is
there a smell? Then there may
be a bacterial infection.
We know in enclosed
environments coughs and
sneezes are quickly transmitted.
What is not so well known or
appreciated is that bacteria are
very efficiently spread by your
car’s air conditioning system.
Unfortunately it is all too easy
to fix the symptoms without
addressing the actual disease
afflicting the car.
“LICKING” BACTERIAL
INFECTION
Bacterial infection in the vents
can be very unpleasant and
potentially a further risk to health:
“Even when the system is off,”
says Geoff, “condensation and
dirt hidden inside the system
are ideal breeding grounds
for all sorts of bacteria and
mould.”
An odour is not the worst part of
the situation. “It’s not just a smell”
says Geoff. “If you can smell it,
you are actually tasting it.”
Nice.
In fact, professor Anthony Hilton,
Head of biology and biomedical
Sciences at Aston University,
has said there can be as much
bacteria in a family car as can be
found on a toilet seat. perhaps
alarmingly, during his research
professor Hilton found evidence
of E.coli infections which are
generally caused by eating
contaminated food or drinks.
professor Hilton has publicly
stated that infection from
bacteria is more likely to occur
in older cars that carry both
children and pets.
Passengers who consume food
in their vehicle run the risk of
cross-contamination with their
fresh foods and groceries.
So how do you “lick” bacterial
infection in this situation?
Obviously, you need to be able to
Ai Con Station
Smells like clean spirit